FROM BIKE PURE (with minor edits): The global organisation to protect the image of procycling has had a great start to the 2009 season. BikePure volunteers have been busy at the early season races, raising support for the campaign and collecting riders to sign the BP ‘honour codes’
Bike Pure solely wishes to promote the clean riders, so this week we celebrate a great start to the season in results and recruitment. Young Garmin-Slipstream star Dan Martin 4th in the Tour of the Med, Daniel Lloyd (Cervelo) showing he is settling into top level racing well with 4th overall in Qatar and Olivier Kaison (Slience-Lotto), pictured at left, wore the green jersey in the TDU. The Bronze medal in the World cross Champs for Katie Compton (Spike), shows the world that it can be done clean, on and off road.
The talented Brit, Barney Storey who won double gold at the Beijing Paralympics Games signed this week to Bike Pure’s anti doping commitment, along with the overall winner in the Tour of Qatar Kristin Wild (Cervelo) and Phil Cotes (AmoreVita/McDonalds). Kristin’s win is the first stage race victory for BikePure’s riders and we are all delighted for her efforts and talent, helping to move the sport forward. This along with the 400,000 fans who have viewed and support the bike pure website, is great reassurance that we are on the right track to a new future.
The first step and bravest step for riders and fans is actually recognising and accepting there is a problem with doping in cycle sport. Facing a problem can be hard for everyone, as we all love our sport. It is difficult task for BikePure as it’s primary goal is to protect the future of cycling, and high lighting every caught doper does the opposite: drags the image and integrity of professional cycling back into the gutter. But there is a crisis and repeated scandals of ousted dopers only underline the fact.
Unfortunately, this week Team Ouch presented by Maxxis, declined to sign the honour code. After original positive contact in October to Dec. (when the team were Healthnet and before Mr Landis signed) they were looking to join Bike Pure and use it as an anti doping medium. We have been forced to remove the team form our roster as they would not sign the anti doping honour code. Focusing on those who will not, again takes the spotlight away from those who will.
